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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, JULY 24, 1981
PAGE 2
Later that afternoon Mr. Armstrong spoke to an audience of all church and
college employees in the college gymnasium. The gym was packed! Remarking
on how the Work had grown, he expressed in a very warm and fatherly way his
gratitude for the employees and their sacrifices for the Work. He took the
opportunity to announce a moderate pay increase for those present, saying
that salaries had been below par for some time, but now God's blessing on
the Work makes a raise possible. It will go some way to setting salaries at
the right level.
He went on to discuss plans for the Work, the need for more radio and
television time, and for a concentrated effort in reaching the world now
that the Church is "pretty well back on the track."
In that light, he
announced that a new advertising agency, BBDO (Batten, Barton, Durstine and
Osborn) will begin work on behalf of the Church immediately. They are one
of the top four U.S. agencies, and their international operation makes them
sixth largest in the world. They have been working on our account in Canada
since 1978, and Australia and New Zealand since January 1981. They are now
actively seeking new television and radio opportunities in the United
States. We'll have more on that as plans develop.
David Hulme has been added to the staff of the Pastor General's Office to
assist me, especially in media work. He will interface with the new agency
and coordinate our advertising efforts in regular consultation with Mr.
Armstrong. David has worked on the Church's media plans for the past ten
years in Britain, Europe, South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
It's great to be working with him again!
Worldwide Advertising, with whom we have contractual obligations until
1985, will continue to represent the Church on a minimum of existing radio
and television contracts. All new buys will, however, be investigated and
made by the new advertising agency.
On Friday, July 17, Mr. Armstrong and his party traveled to the Canadian
office in Vancouver, British Columbia. On Friday afternoon he toured the
Vancouver office and was given a detailed overview of God's Work in Canada.
Mr. Colin Adair and his staff, in conjunction with our Canadian advertising
agency, had put together a very graphic presentation of the growth and
development of God's Work in Canada.
The office was first established in Vancouver in February 1961, and the
Church was started in June of 1962, when Mr. Roderick Meredith conducted
the first service.
Today God's people meet on a regular basis in 75
churches throughout the nation, served by a total of 51 full-time minis
ters, six trainees (three just for the summer) and 22 local church elders.
Attendance averages 9,570 each month and membership stands at 5,878.
Attendance is up over 1980 by 5.7% as of May, and baptisms are up by 12%.
The Vancouver office also services the state of Alaska where we have four
churches and one Feast of Tabernacles site.
As Christ has moved to put the Church back on the track, the Work in Canada
has been blessed. The income for the year to date is up over 1980 by 28.1%
(as of June).
The majority of that income, which is targeted at 11.1
million dollars for 1981, is earmarked for the Great Commission of
preaching the Gospel. Fully 63% of all the Canadian income will be spent on
Great Commission activities.
The church in Canada has had some unique
media opportunities which have played a large part in building the Work.